The late Texas state Sen. Teel Bivins of Amarillo used to lament the Legislature’s task of reapportioning legislative and congressional districts, saying it gave Republicans a “chance to eat their own.”

I’m not sure what he meant in that context. However, the comment is worth dredging up today as we hear that congressional Republicans are angry with one of their own over his efforts to block the bipartisan economic stimulus package signed into law by Donald Trump; the package is aimed at helping Americans weather the economic storm brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Rep. Thomas Massie sought to block the House voice vote. He exhibited an extreme case of contrarian impulse. The Kentucky Republican wanted a roll call vote, believing members of Congress needed to put their votes on the record. He angered Democrats and Republicans alike, not to mention the president.

Now the House GOP caucus is mad as hell at Massie. Republican members of Congress are donating money to his primary challenger. They want the guy out of their hair, out of Congress, away from Capitol Hill. They want him gone, man!

U.S. Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio, donated to Massie’s opponent while tweeting to Massie he gave money to his opponent “because I believe that you don’t belong in Congress.”

Ouch! Feel the burn.

The effort by Massie would have delayed the payments that have begun arriving in Americans’ bank accounts. And for what purpose? To assuage the nebulous concerns of a House back bencher. That is not what I call “good government.”

Massie has had a reputation for years of being an obstructionist, of seeking to upset what the late U.S. Sen. John McCain used to call “regular order.” Massie’s fellow Republicans are saying that they’ve had enough of this guy’s gamesmanship.

Now they are seeking to consume him, figuratively of course.

Bon appetit.